Humans have been suffering from the malady for millennia. Recorded depictions date back to at least 4000 B.C. in Mesopotamia, where it was thought that Tiu, the evil spirit of headaches, was to blame. The shenanigans of evil spirits were
assumed to be the cause of headaches throughout many cultures, and gave rise to trephination — a procedure in which a small circular portion of the skull was removed, creating egress for the pain-triggering spirits.
Given how agonizing a headache can be, rowdy evil spirits wreaking havoc doesn’t seem all that much of a stretch. Fortunately we know better now, and in most cultures no longer rely on holes drilled in the head for relief. But if not evil sprits, what does cause the pain?
There are many catalysts that can create the ache, and medical literature has complied a lengthy compendium of causes. Culled from several sources, below is a summary of the most common triggers for migraine, cluster, rebound and tensionheadaches. Some of them you may be familiar with, but there is no shortage of surprising ones.
Overuse of common prescription or over-the-counter pain medication: Half of chronic migraines, and as many as 25 percent of all headaches, are actually “rebound” episodes triggered by the overuse of common pain medications.
1.Beer
2.Red wine
3.Aged cheese
4.Soy
5.Smoked fish
6.Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)
7.Processed foods
8.Fermented foods
9.Pickled foods
10.Marinated foods
11.Chocolate
12.Nuts
13.Dairy products
14.Aspartame
15.Skipping meals
16.Bright lights
17.Sun glare
18.Loud sounds
19.Pleasant scents, such as perfume
20.Unpleasant odors, such as paint thinner and secondhand smoke
21.Smoking
22.Hormonal changes in women before or during their periods, during pregnancy, or 23.menopause
24.Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
25.Jet lag
26.Changes in wake-sleep pattern
27.Not enough sleep
28.Too much sleep
29.Sleeping in a cold room
30.Sleeping with the neck in an abnormal position
31.Holding your head and neck in an abnormal position while working (typing, microscope viewing, etc)
32.Intense physical exertion
33.Sexual activity
34.Change of weather or barometric pressure
35.High altitudes (hiking, air travel)
36.Heat (hot weather, hot baths)
37.Colds, the flu or a sinus infection
38.Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
39.Eye strain
40.Head injury
41.Stress
42.Depression
43.Anxiety
Serious causes of headaches are rare, but sometimes headaches warn of a more serious disorder. The National Institutes of Health recommends letting your health care provider know if you have sudden, severe headaches. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness or pain in the eye or ear.
source:mother nature network
